Stories about Portuguese from December, 2008
Americas: A Look Back at 2008
In 2008, the Latin American team from Global Voices helped add context and helped highlight voices of bloggers that wrote about the numerous news stories that took place across the region. From the election of an ex-bishop in Paraguay to the march against the FARC in Colombia, bloggers provided their thoughts on natural disasters, protests, strikes, and important events across the Americas.
Brazil: Chico Mendes lives on, 20 years after his death
Bloggers remember and pay homage to Chico Mendes, the man whose actions highlighted the plight of the Amazon internationally, and who was murdered twenty years ago by those who were opposed to his activism.
Angola: On The Lack of Human Rights
In the mood for the Human Rights Day celebrations this December, Angolan bloggers have much to say. Angola has still not ceased appearing in reports about violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, despite holding a seat on the Human Rights Council.
Brazil: Against Illegal Abortion or Against Women?
Abortion is a very complex issue in Brazil, just like almost everywhere else in Latin America, where it is considered a crime. Despite this, over 1,000,000 clandestine abortions take place in Brazil and over 70,000 women die of complications from clandestine abortion attempts every year. Daniel Duende takes a look at the new moves in the clash between pro-life and pro-choice movements.
Brazil: Manifesto For The Immediate Release of Graffiti Painter
While a police officer who mistakenly killed a boy of just three has been acquitted of murder, a graffiti painter arrested on October 26 for spraying the walls of the Art Bienal of São Paulo's pavilion spent her 24th birthday in jail. Bloggers comment on the ironies and discrepancies of the Brazilian judicial system.
Angola: A country with huge, untapped tourism potential
Angola boasts an amazing interior landscape, rich and varied fauna, bountiful wildlife, and an extensive national park system, offering something for every visitor. However, most of its potential is still untapped, and if well explored, could make Angola the biggest tourist destination in Africa.
Brazil: Introducing the Offline Twitter
Lúcia Malla [pt] and a group of friends – all of whom have twitter accounts – show what happens when twitter addicts meet in a bar: they keep twiterring offline. See the pictures. “Experiment's general conclusion: the more difficult thing on the offline twitter is to design your avatar. ;) ...
Brazilian Police Literally Gets Away with Murder
At the moment when the world was celebrating Human Rights Day, and exactly when a similar crime sparks riots in Greece, Brazilian bloggers cry out against yet another death caused by the disastrous approach of the police going unpunished in Rio de Janeiro - this time the victim was a boy of just three.
East Timor: Human what?
Timor Cartoon International has a cartoon to celebrate the 60 years of the universal declaration for human rights.
Brazil: Deadly chemical leak kills 80 ton fish in Rio de Janeiro
On November 18, a leak of deadly endosulfan pesticide into the Pirapetinga river killed over 80 tonnes of fish, plus water hogs, tortoises, birds, and others creatures. The tragedy was worsened by the fact that it happened during breeding season for many species, some of which are under threat of extinction. After a suspension of 20 days only, the company responsible for the accident resumed operations today. Bloggers react.
East Timor: The difference a computer makes
In a country where the cost of the Internet is 3.000 USD a month for a 256 kbps connection, Sara Moreira shares pictures from the times she was teaching Computer Engineerig in Dili. “As you can see, your laptops would truly make a difference for young women in Dili, Timor!”.
Brazil: How to become Santa Claus in four weeks
Anton M. Steeman describes one of the many courses in Brazil that leads to qualified Santa Clauses, a welcome Christmas temporary job. “The most difficult part of being a good Santa Claus is the hours and hours sitting in a chair, showing a slight smile, taking punches and pushes, a...
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